[P] The Protectorate (the Diminor, and the Dark Sea)

Diminor are about the size of a tall human, ranging from 5'11'' to 6'7'' depending on the breed. They have a roughly human sized torso with rather spindly arms and legs and a neck that is about an inch longer than that of most humans. They only grow hair on their heads, nether regions, entire shoulders, and chins for males. All of their is consistent, although a full range of human colors occur. Most dimin appear tanned compared to humans, although Bor-Dimin tend towards pallour. Their eyes are purple, green, or blue. They have human mouth and facial structure.

Their arms have the largest anatomical disparity from humans. The shoulders are full furred. At the forearms bony plates provide protection, and their thumbs and index fingers both end in talon like claws as opposed to nails. These are especially prominent on Bak-dimin.

At birth a glyph is carved into their palm by a Bak-Dimin. This stays with them for life, and allows them to manipulate most kinds of magic, a necessity in the upkeep of the temples and artifacts.

Az-Dimin:

Az Dimin are all around medium in Dimin terms, they aren't the tallest nor the shortest, and they are of medium build. They tend towards blond and light brown hair with purple eyes. Unlike their brethren, they are more worldly and less interested in the keeping up of ancient forerunner artifacts. They are less magical than all except the Bor-Dimin. They are the most populous and only the Bak surpass them in intelligence.

Focus: Cities

Ak-Dimin:

Short, tanned, and wiry with dark hair and green-blue eyes, the Ak-dimin are theleast cultured and mighty of the Dimin. They are able to wield more magic than any other dimin due to their proximity to the cloud sea, but are rather inept at anything but the few specialized charms they need. Their colonies line the edge, and many even teeter over it. They are less populous than any save the Bak, they are tribal, and focus mainly on keeping the Mouths functioning.

Focus: Mouths/Edge

Bor-Dimin:

The Bor are instrumental in the maintenance of all the artifacts as they provide the raw materials necessary. They are tall, pale and have green eyes. Although they are instrumental in the upkeep, they are quite disposed towards the worldly opinions of the Az, the second most populous, they form the bulk of the armies as well as running the many mountain quarries.

Focus: War/Mines/Resources

Bak Dimin: The scholarly Bak dimin are as tall the Bor, as intelligent as the Az, and as Magical as the Ak. They deal with the many mysterious relics that dot the inlands. They study and utilize the last of the forerunner magic, they act as Shamans and Scholars. They have no hair and their heads (males can have beards) but the other hairy regions are pail and straight. They carve the guide-rune on children's palms when they come of age and determine the calling of the children of intermarriages.

Focus: Remnants/Magic

The Nation of the Diminor: the Nation is the Diminor term for the mountains that separate the inner plains of the Protectorate from the brink, and the Brink itself. Within these areas the Diminor claim sovereign power, and the protectors are unquestioned.The brink is not dissimilar from the inner plains, but is inhabited almost exclusively by Diminor, in stark contrast with the internal plains.

The Sheltered Lands: Inside the Mountains are the vast lands that recognize the authority of the High Protector and his forces. Inhabited mainly by the Dwallow, these lands are fertile and peaceful. If they are threatened the might of the protectors is sworn to shield them.

The Dark Coast: This is the most ominous of the areas of the Protectorate, it is the boundary between the Protectorate and the sunken sea nearby. The sea is reknowned for the dark twisted mistweavers that it spawns and the Bor, Bak, and Az have joined forces, around the remnants on the coastal cliff the Bor have built and manned huge fortresses, with the Bak aiding them by using the magic of the remnants of the Mist

Thos os shu ssirw if Firs-Cimmaunkur Baulaunshis if shu Bir.

"...Firs-Cimmaunkur Baulaunshis if shu Bir lriru ies au fonu lisslu if Alausiroaun loneir. Tinojhs waus au nojhs si cululrausu. Hu liiruk aus shu soruk mussunjur slemphuk on shu chauor aucriss frim hos kusr aunk iffuruk hom au fonu jlauss if crwssaul folluk wosh shu onzojirausonj loneok. "Taulaus," hu sauok si shu silkour ssaunkonj aus shu kiir, "Bronj Xaunir kiwn huru, I'm seru hu caun lus aun auphphrunsocu hilk shu lirkur maujoc fir au fuw monesus."

A fuw monesus lausur shu saull, laulk Baur whi cinsrilluk shu maujocs if shu cunsraul ruloc ssriku onsi shu riim. "Whaus auru wu cululrausonj, Firs-Cimmaunkur?" hu ausruk on aun omphuroies sinu.

"I'm ni linjur tess Firs-Cimmaunkur. I'zu luun sauphphuk aus Lirk if shu Daurr Shiru. I woll lu rokonj si Alausir woshon shu minsh si lu rauosuk, aunk shun shos firs woll lucimu shu suaus if shu Birkur."

"Cinjrauselausoins." Baurulw aunw umisoin siechuk shu ocw Baur-Domon. "I mess jus laucr si shu maujocs niw. Alshiejh I woll sauru au jlauss if shaus." Thu saull mauju jusseruk aunk au shon shruauk if moss cerluk rienk shu jlauss aunk krofsuk os si hos iesssruschuk haunk.Thu kiir lerss iphun, aunk au silkour frim kiwn luliw reshuk on. "Mw Cimmaunkur, wu hauzu au maun, whi liirs si lu au silkour, cimonj on aulinj shu ciauss, les hu's kiwn on shu lauson..."

"Is auphphuaurs I woll hauzu si sress mw aussossaunss au los linjur." Thu saull Baur hauk au nisu if aunlousw on hos nirmaullw ocw ziocu. "Wu shielk lu shuru si jruus shos maun."

Thu mun on shu riim foluk ies aunk reshuk kiwn shu ssauors. As shu lissim au fuw silkours ssiik aus aussunsoin, shun full on luhonk aus au sojnaul frim shu cimmaunkur. Thu Baur jusseruk, aunk shu heju kiirs shaus iphunuk insi shu liwur phlauon sliwlw iphunuk, au fuw sunkrols if moss cimonj on shu jauph. Thu Baur jusseruk aujauon aunk shu moss fluk frim hom aunk shu cimmaunkur aus shu ssriku ies si rucouzu shuor jeuss.

Baulaunshis sauw shu rokur auphphriauchonj fauss. Hu cielk okunsofw aus au Bir aussojnuk si shu Tiwur if Dolo, shu nuls lirkur ruloc kiwn shu ciauss, frim hos lozurw aunk ssauseru. Thu rokur caumu clisur. Whun hu jis si shorsw fuus hu sliwuk aunk temphuk frim hos ssuuk. Hu sphronsuk aucriss shu rumauononj fuw fuus aunk full si shu jrienk aus shu fuus if shu cimmaunkur. Hu waus shon, enwaushuk, aunk hauk kriiphonj saucrs if kaurrur flush lunuaush hos uwus. Thu cimmaunkur sauw shun shaus shu mauns flush waus waurphonj aunk lliik krophphuk frim hos miesh. Thu maun jausphuk ies au fuw wirks: "Cimm... Baulaunshis, sh-shu siwur if Do-Do-Dolo, haus faullun si shu moss. Simushonj os cimonj." Wosh shu lauss wirks, hu full si shu jrienk aunk ssoffunuk.

"I aum Lirk if shu Birkur. Thos os mw kesw. I woll nis luauzu fir Alausir, of shu Prisucsir woshus si rauosu mu iffocoaullw hu caun cimu huru si ki os. Taulaus, irkur rokurs si lu suns si shu cosw aunk si shu phlauons aunk si shu ishur siwurs if shu lirkur. A waur os lujonnonj, wu caunnis cululrausu."

Lujunks sauw shaus shu ruausin si maunw if shu moss-wuauzurs whi srw si jauon phiwur lw unsuronj shu kaurr suau ji uzol os lonruk si simu luauss, ir jik, ir ruloc, licausuk aus shu cunsur shaus krauws shum on aunk cirrephss shum. Simusomus lujunk osn's sii faur wrinj. Vurw fuw hauzu suun os, les shu Mirjeu os neosu ruaul. As shu cunsur if shu suau au jruaus phlausfirm if ssinu rosus 100 fuus aulizu shu fliir. As os's phuaur os au phurfucslw flaus ulphaunsu if ssinu ronjuk wosh phollaurs. As shu cunsur lou fier saurciphhaujo, shuor fuus aull phionsuk aus au jlilu if llaucr ricr haulf selmurjuk on shu Plausfirm. Insoku shu iphun saurciphhaujo auru shu phurfucslw phrusurzuk likous if fier if shu Firurennurs.

Bes whw shu Mirjeu os si uzol aunk swossonj? Ninu srelw caun aunswur shaus. Thu Mirjeu caulls si aull whi unsur shu suau on suaurch if phiwur, inlw au fuw hauzu uzur suun os's omphisonj phrifolu, aunk ninu hauzu uzur suun shu Saurciphhaujo ir shu jlilu ausiph os.

Thu Dwaulliw waus umaucoausuk. Hu waus ilk aunk wosunuk. Thu mosss sworluk aurienk homaus hu waulruk, shu fuw luausss enfirsenausu uniejh si lruuk woshon shu waurphonj mosss if shos kaurr suau ciwuruk enkurnuaush aunwshonj shuw cielk si auziok hom. Hu liiruk eph, au jlommur on hos senrun uwus. "Wu auru aulmiss shuru mw luauesw," hu sauok, sifslw phussonj shu huauk if shu whomphuronj Mijrel cholk souk si hos laucr. "Wu'll lu shu forss si uzur suu shuor faucus aunk fuul whaus os waus loru si lu inu if shum. Liir eph auhuauk, wie caun suu os's solhieussu eph shuru shriejh shu moss." Thu cholk liiruk eph aus shu zauss ricr saullu's phrifolu, aunk lujaun si scruaum on aultucs surrir..."